Nintendo appears to be planning a strategic move to fill a notable gap in the Switch 2's late 2026 release calendar. According to credible gaming insider NatetheHate, the company will release a remake of the seminal Nintendo 64 game Ocarina of Time to Switch 2 in the second half of 2026. The information has already gained traction across the industry; Video Games Chronicle reports it lines up with what it's heard from its own sources.
The timing of such a remake makes particular commercial sense. 2026 marks the series' 40th anniversary, and Ocarina of Time consistently ranks as a fan favourite entry in the Zelda franchise. Beyond the anniversary angle, a live-action Zelda movie is arriving next year, and Nintendo will no doubt want to ensure audiences have done their homework on the games that inspired it.
What remains unclear, however, is the scope of the work involved. The reliable tipster said he doesn't know whether Nintendo is making a 1:1 remake of the original 3D Zelda entry, or something that's a little more free to explore design choices. The distinction matters considerably. Ocarina of Time has of course been remastered before, with 2011's Ocarina of Time 3D for the 3DS generally considered to be the best version of the game you can play today. A full remake would represent a significantly more ambitious undertaking than a simple remaster.
This isn't the only major announcement rumoured to be on the horizon. A brand new classic-style Star Fox game would mark the return of the spacefaring Fox McCloud after a decade spent in Nintendo's unloved mascot closet, with a new 3D Mario game not expected to arrive until 2027.
Of course, none of this is official. Nintendo has been characteristically tight-lipped about its plans for the Zelda anniversary. Yet the consistency of reports from respected sources, combined with the commercial logic of the timing, suggests the industry's insiders are tracking something real. For now, readers should maintain appropriate scepticism—but there are clearly reasons to pay attention to what emerges over the coming months.